England Guide
Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales – "dales" from the Viking word dalr (valley) – form a varied upland area of limestone hills and pastoral valleys at the heart of the Pennines. Protected as a National Park since 1954, there are over twenty main dales covering 680 square miles, crammed with opportunities for outdoor activities.
Most approaches are from the south, via the superbly engineered Settle to Carlisle Railway, or along the main A65 road from towns such as Skipton, Settle and Ingleton. This makes southern dales like Wharfedale the most visited, while neighbouring Malhamdale is also immensely popular, thanks to the fascinating scenery squeezed into its narrow confines around Malham village. Ribblesdale is more sombre, its villages popular with hikers intent on tackling the Dales' famous Three Peaks – the mountains of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside. To the northwest lies the more remote Dentdale, one of the least known but most beautiful of the valleys. Moving north, there are two parallel dales, Wensleydale and Swaledale, the latter pushing Dentdale as the most rewarding overall target. Both flow east, with Swaledale's lower stretches encompassing the appealing historic town of Richmond.
Free public transporttimetables ( 
www.dalesbus.org ) are available at tourist offices across the region, or consult www.traveldales.org.uk .
Read more ▼
- Region(s) ▼
- Sports and Outdoor ▼
- City/Town ▼